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Two years ago I was told I had inoperable stage IV pancreatic cancer and most likely had six to eight months left.

At that moment I never thought I would be here today to tell my story and, I hope, give encouragement to others like me.

It was 2013, when I was 63, and my daughter was about to have her first child. I was heartbroken about potentially missing out on this new chapter. The diagnosis hit me like a ton of bricks. I was a healthy nonsmoker who enjoyed the outdoors, especially kayaking. Facing a five-year survival rate of just 6 percent, I began educating myself about my treatment options, called the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for information and support, and worked closely with my doctors to learn more about my diagnosis.

When I was told my cancer had metastasized, I also learned I was not eligible for the Whipple procedure – a funny name for a serious surgery to remove pancreatic cancers. My tumor was in the tail of my pancreas, encased in major blood vessels and arteries, and had spread to the lining on the wall of my abdomen.

After countless hours of speaking with my oncologist, I had three choices:

Do nothing.

Undergo very aggressive chemotherapy.

Undergo chemotherapy in a clinical trial.

I searched online for situations like mine and found few that I could relate to. Frustrated by this, I knew I had to make a bold but educated choice. I am so fortunate to have two daughters working in the medical field to help me sort through my questions about clinical trials. One is a cancer research scientist in Boston and the other a nurse practitioner in Florida. Additionally, my oncologist was the principal investigator of a pancreatic cancer clinical trial.

Would I Be Treated Like a Guinea Pig?

My biggest fear about participating in a clinical trial was fear of the unknown, as it is for many others faced with this decision. I also feared that I was going to be treated like a guinea pig or given a placebo.

My daughters and the oncologist debunked those myths. I learned that clinical trials are necessary to determine whether new treatments developed in the laboratory are beneficial for people living with pancreatic cancer. And I learned there was no chance of receiving a placebo alone, without other treatment. Not only was I ready to take a chance to prolong my survival, I wanted to help others down the road by enrolling in a clinical trial.

After a series of evaluations, I met the criteria to enroll in a trial for patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have not received prior chemotherapy. I am currently enrolled in a trial using a targeted-therapy oral medication along with a chemotherapy regimen. I am grateful for the close supervision I receive from the clinical trial team, an added benefit of participation.

As of today, the original tumor has not been growing, nor has the cancer been spreading.

I have been receiving chemotherapy every two weeks for about one-and-a-half years. On my non-treatment weeks, I am cherishing this time and making the most of my moments. I may not be able to run five miles, but I can walk two. I regularly visit family along the East Coast, have been out west, and have participated in six of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s PurpleStride 5k events. I’ve been able to "wage hope" in Boston, Scranton, Tampa, Atlanta, and Orlando. My family and friends have organized teams in all of these cities, and also in Raleigh, North Carolina, in Philadelphia, and in Houston.

These events have allowed us to really connect with other pancreatic cancer survivors and their families. They also raise additional funds to help provide personalized support for patients, research grants, and advocacy efforts to increase federal pancreatic cancer research funding.

I want to give hope to those with pancreatic cancer who can't have surgery. All of the survivor stories I found involved the Whipple surgery. I wanted to hear just one story from someone like me. For that survivor with inoperable stage IV pancreatic cancer, there is hope beyond that dismal prognosis.

Resources for Patients Like Me

I encourage anyone facing this disease to contact the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's patient and liaison services team online or by phone 877-272-6226. They have the very latest information about clinical trials and will perform individualized clinical trial searches for patients, free of charge.

I will continue to be a vocal advocate for clinical trials. I credit the clinical trial and treatment team, my tremendous army of support, and most of all my faith for increased quality of life and additional time with my loved ones.

Patricia Theobald, shown above with her grandson Asher, is 64 and lives with her husband in Florida, near Dunnellon. She is retired after working for 33 years in social work for the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. The Theobalds moved to Florida from New York seven years ago.

Last Updated:3/18/2015

Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health. See More

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